When asked as she was being led to a waiting police cruiser if she had any comment, Rivero politely responded, “No, maam.”

UPDATE: Police in Collingdale will hold a morning press conference to discuss the case of the death of an 11-month-old toddler due to “acute heroin intoxication.”

A press conference will be held at 10 .m. at the Collingdale Police Station concerning the death of 11-month-old Niccolo Varner. Police are expected to file charges against the tot’s mother.

Christine Rivero, 29, of the 200 block of Lincoln Avenue in Collingdale will be charged with: third degreee murder, criminal homicide, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and engandering the welfare of children.

COLLINGDALE — The mother of an 11-month-old borough boy who died in July after ingesting heroin will be charged Friday in connection with his murder, authorities said late Thursday.

Christine Rivero, of the 200 block of Lincoln Avenue, was detained overnight at Collingdale police headquarters, following an exhaustive interview with borough and county detectives throughout much of the day Thursday, Police Chief Robert Adams confirmed at press time.

Details regarding charges were not immediately available.

Detectives stepped up a homicide investigation since receiving word Tuesday from the Delaware County Medical Examiner’s office that Niccolo Varner had died of “acute heroin intoxication.”

A full autopsy was conducted by Delaware County Medical Examiner Dr. Fredric N. Hellman on July 17; both cause and manner of death were “pending further studies” at that time, according to a document released by the medical examiner’s office.

On Wednesday, Adams said he received word Tuesday from the Delaware County Medical Examiner’s Office that the death was ruled a homicide, the first for Collingdale and the 23rd for Delaware County this year.

The latest “Official Findings” document involving the baby’s death was made public Wednesday night by the M.E.’s office.

According to the document, the boy measured about 28 inches long and weighed 19 pounds.

Early in the investigation, authorities described the boy’s death as suspicious.

Niccolo Varner was pronounced dead in the emergency room at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital at 8:40 a.m. — 16 minutes after his mother reported to authorities that he was in respiratory distress.

According to the initial press release issued by Adams, police and emergency rescuers were dispatched to a Lincoln Avenue residence at 8:24 a.m. Sunday, July 15. When Officers Michael Callahan and Brian Neidelman arrived, they saw Collingdale medics exiting the back door of the residence carrying a child and performing CPR.

Adams stated that it was “due to the circumstances surrounding the time leading up to the child being found” that he requested the assistance of Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division detectives.

The release also indicated that the child’s mother, identified as Christine Rivero, was being detained for investigation of alleged possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as questioning about her son. No charges were filed against Rivero at that time.

Prior to the emergency call, authorities said the boy was home with his parents, a sibling and an adult house guest.

According to Auslander, Varner was granted sole “physical custody” of Luciano on Aug. 24 after a series of petitions and court hearings addressing Luciano’s removal from the family home by Children and Youth Services of Delaware County, immediately following his younger sibling’s death.

“He stepped up and is doing the right thing,” Auslander said Thursday afternoon of Victor Varner. “He’s taken over parental responsibility of his son. His chief goal is the safety and welfare of his son ... His son is doing extremely well under his father’s care.”

Before the court permitted Luciano’s return home to his father, the boy was in foster care. During that time, father and son were allowed supervised visits. Current legal custody of Luciano Varner remains with CYS.